Posted May 12, 200915 yr Joe Cole: I'll come back stronger Joe Cole has vowed to return from his long-term knee injury a stronger player after sitting out the second half of Chelsea's campaign. The winger has been sidelined since January 14 when he limped out of Chelsea's 4-1 win away to Southend in their third-round FA Cup replay. Cole had also been restricted by a niggling ankle injury in the first part of the season and has since admitted he tried to come back too quickly from that complaint. Cole believes that could have contributed to his season being prematurely ended at Roots Hall and is determined not to make the same mistake again, claiming when he does return he will be "bullet-proof". "The way I see it is when I get injured then I will come back stronger," he told Chelsea TV. "I'm so focused on coming back better and stronger than before. You get knocks in life and you can talk in victory and in glory but when the chips are down and you are in adversity you need to come through that. "I come in every day and do what the physiotherapists say I need to do to the letter. Then I'll see where it takes me." He added: "I think why I got injured was because at the start of the season I was playing with little niggles. I had an ankle injury and came back too soon. "The manager wanted me back, and I tend to want to play through the pain. Maybe that is a lesson learned. It's a hard lesson learned, but I will come back when I'm ready whenever that may be." Cole, 27, has had to sit on the sidelines as Chelsea's Premier League and Champions League aspirations have unravelled, with the FA Cup final against Everton their last remaining hope of winning silverware this term. The England winger admitted it has been difficult to watch, but with his best years ahead of him he is determined to come back fitter and help the west Londoners return to the heights they scaled with back-to-back league titles under former boss Jose Mourinho. "I'm coming into my peak years. The next five years will be the best of my career so I want to get myself bullet-proof," he said. "I want to tick every box and win some major trophies again. "I won't let it get me down. Being an injured Chelsea player is probably the second best job in the world behind being a Chelsea player."
May 12, 200915 yr Being an injured Chelsea player is probably the second best job in the world behind being a Chelsea player." top man Edited May 12, 200915 yr by bjd
May 13, 200915 yr Great to hear. We need him fit for an entire season. Next season will be our season...unless we sign a complete muppet as manager.
May 13, 200915 yr "Being an injured Chelsea player is probably the second best job in the world behind being a Chelsea player." That's why we love you!!!
May 13, 200915 yr Great stuff to read, and let's hope he does come back better and stronger, as we sure could have used an on-form Joe Cole in the last few months. It has, however, been a while since he was at the top of his game, so he will need to battle hard to get into the team again, especially if we make some big signings in the summer. I have faith though, and although it may be easy to say the right things to the media, with Joe you get the feeling it's not all clever propaganda and he really does mean it.
May 15, 200915 yr he realy needs to hit the floor running and then to continue for a full season. so much promise, so little return.
May 15, 200915 yr Its obvious Joe Cole is a better player than Kalou and Malouda, I know he hasnt been in brilliant form for a couple of seasons, but neither have they. 3 things put him apart from Malouda and Kalou, he has the ability to unlock defences, he can score goals, and he will always have the fans support. Hes only 27, so plenty of time left to shine. Good luck Joe ! -_-
May 15, 200915 yr I knew you wouldn't be able to resist :DHe's English, of course. You dipped that rod of yours into the water and I bit like a good 'un!!! But seriously ES, many of the fans favourites over the seasons have been foreign. Zola, Eidur, Dan the man, Robbie Di etc etc. Whether they are English or not, doesn't come into it. It's being able to see that even when they are not 100% on form, that they still at least give 100% effort wise. Sure it's great we have a contingent of home grown players - all successful sides needs them, and Malouda and Kalou still have a lot to do to be regarded by the fans in the way Joe is. Malouda seems to be on the right track but I don't think Kalou will be around for much longer.
May 15, 200915 yr That's true. i can't argue with that. I just get a sense that he wouldn't get the same adulation if he was French. I could be wrong. Anyway, you know I love him really. I would certainly have preferred to have him fit and available over the last couple of months. i'm sure he would have made a difference. I'd just like to see him back to the form he showed under Mourinho before he got injured.
May 15, 200915 yr That's true. i can't argue with that. I just get a sense that he wouldn't get the same adulation if he was French. I could be wrong.Anyway, you know I love him really. I would certainly have preferred to have him fit and available over the last couple of months. i'm sure he would have made a difference. I'd just like to see him back to the form he showed under Mourinho before he got injured. Like it. It's that old cliche of treating the ones we love cruelly is it? Hmmm, maybe I should buy the Mrs a bunch of flowers on the way home today. And I best not give my kids their usual Friday beating this week.
